Baseball-player&#39;s abbreviated training-glove &amp; method

ABSTRACT

The notion of a physically down-scaled ‘fielding-trainer’-type catching-glove suitable for all ages desiring to improve their bio-mechanical hand/eye-coordination, WebGlov™ is configured with receptacles for thumb &amp; forefinger only, with cross-webbing extending there between; as to thereby uniquely serve in catching conventional golfball-sized light-weight hollow-polyballs. This abbreviated glove can be implemented in a challenging practice of regular catching conducted between two or more distally opposed participants, —or, it can be employed by only a single catcher while training alone in novel combination with a relentless conventional auto-feed Ball-thruster machine. Preferable fabricated of durable nylon-clad ¼″-thickness highly-flexible frothed-neoprene material, the notion of this glove is to enable its user to more precisely coordinate their eye and hand, by requiring them to catch a relatively small polyball in the comparatively tiny receiving-pocket area formed between the WebGlov&#39;s thumb and index-finger (or, alternatively the middle-finger). The ‘reduced-scale effect’ of this diminutive pocket-area as compared to the approximately four to six time larger receiver-pocket provided by a conventional fielder&#39;s-glove, is the key-factor in promoting significant improvement in the instantaneous reflex-action needed to place one&#39;s hand at the critical position, coupled with the pocket-closure timing required to thus consistently catch and trap an approaching ball.

I.) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to a sport-glove, particularly a baseballfielder's type of ball catching-glove, and more specifically it relatesto specialized size, shape, and construction; —as well as the manner inwhich it is to be used.

2. Inspired Innovation

In the course of baseball's evolution, many performance enhancingdevices have been developed, with ball-hitting as being the primarymarketing emphasis. These ‘offensive’ related products includedlight-weight hitting-‘sticks’ such as narrow-diameter bats, loaded-bats,and bats which “click” when swung properly; —the use of slim-bats havingbeen around early in the game's invention, —the objective being toimprove ‘hand & eye’ coordination, and to improve mechanical accuracy inprecisely impacting the baseball's leading-surface with the leading-edgeof the bat. However, by way of comparison, relatively little has beendone towards addressing the benefits of adopting a similar reduced scaleeffect in the ‘defensive’ area of fielding and catching.

Accordingly, the notion of a uniquely small, lightweight training gloveby which to catch a golfball-sized polyball, was the conceptual resultof a heretofore unobvious need to be able to actually ‘feel’ the ballbeing caught! While the down-sized polyball proved useful in posing asignificantly smaller cross-section, because of the relatively massivesize of present-day baseball-gloves, the fractional-weight (only about¼-ounce, or about 1/20th the weight of a regulation hardball) of thehollow polyball was deemed unusable for training practice catchingpurposes, —as it was practically impossible to ‘feel’ the small polyballwhen caught (one would have to actually—‘look to see if it was indeedcaptured’). Owing to its far lesser mass, the polyball was simply toinsignificant as compared to the relative inertia of a conventionalregulation 5-ounce baseball (softballs weighing even more at 6.8-ounces)moving at any speed. Determined to solve the problem of working withsuch a fractional-ounce small-ball, I devised a crudely-fashioned ‘dualfinger-aperture glove’ replete with a ‘catch-region’ receiving-trapbridging between thumb and forefinger tubule like receptacles. Being aprofessional baseball-player, I was immediately surprised when thelight-weight prototype glove demonstrated the desired result;—as itserved to, advantageously replace the conventional fielder'scatching-glove with a new bare-minimum configuration, tactilely far morecompatibly sensitive to the light-weight practice polyball.Additionally, this diminutive glove-size was discovered to physicallycause a practicing-catcher to more accurately position his WebGlov™catching-hand, thereby substantially improving his chance for a propercatch!

RELEVANT PRIOR-ART

Background research discovery provides some prior patent-art regarded asgermane to this disclosure, chronologically for example in U.S. Pat. No.2,776,139 (filed: 2/1954) shows the origin of the Wiffle®-ball, whichname was inspired by the phrase “whiffed” (meaning the batter missedhitting the ball), —which itself derived from the “whiffff”-sound heardas the associated slim 1-inch diameter training-bat (originally, to theconsternation of many Moms, —just a cut off wooden broom-handle) swingsthrough the air! This early example polyball employed elongated openingsupon one half, while the opposite half-hemisphere was either smooth orfestooned with myriad tiny-holes; all of which were said to betterenable the pitching of curve-balls. Later iterations of the Wiffle®-ballappear to favor an even disbursal of approximately 5/16-inch circularholes spaced about ⅜-inch apart; which design lends considerableresiliency, happily negating damage to windows and car-fenders.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,376 (filed: 1/1988) is shown a full-sizedsportball catching glove which is constructed of synthetic-leatherplastic material, yet facilitates full use of the user's hand.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,721 (filed: 6/1989) is shown a full-sizedsportball fielder's style glove, which is instantly convertible from ableachers-stand seat-cushion; which is symmetrically U-shaped with aflex-crease down the center, plus a webbing-trap bridges between the twohalves. No actual hand receiving pocket is provided, —just a pair ofstraps serve to receive the user's thumb at one half of the flex-crease,and all four fingers at the adjacent half of the flex-crease. However,there is no anticipation, nor possibility of adapting this design toserve as a training-glove.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,362 (filed: 10/1994) is shown aninstructional-mitt of slightly reduced size for young baseball players,and features a webbing-trap portion between the thumb and four-fingerswhich is formed with a deeper shape whereby the caught ball has lesstendency to pop-out if the uncoordinated user does not instantly closeand thereby capture the ball. Thus while intended as a training-glove,there is no anticipation of reduced-scale as to thereby force a moreskilled ball-catcher to further improve their more advanced skill.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,436 (filed: 6/1997) is shown a full-sizedsymmetrically-shaped “center-webbed” glove, which is said to better usethe natural-fold of the human-hand in capturing a ball into thewebbing-trap arranged between the two-center of four thumb andfinger-pockets. However, there are thus four cooperatingfinger-receptacles, and there is no anticipation of reduced-scale bywhich to improve the hand-eye coordination of a practicing ball catcher.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,515 (filed: 12/1999) is shown a full-sized“ergonomic fielding-glove”, and features a greatly extendedthumb/receiver-pocket and extended mitten-likefour-finger/receiver-pocket, with a star-burst like webbing-traparranged there between. Hence, the shape of this fielding-glove is saidto improve the landing of the ball into the webbing-trap rather thanimpact upon the palm of the user's hand. However, there is noanticipation of reduced-scale by which to improve the hand-eyecoordination of a practicing ball catcher.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,324,696 (filed: 8/2000) is shown an inexpensivelight-weight “souvenior baseball-mitt” of symmetrical-shape for eitherleft or right handed use, which is made of flat 2-layer laminated-foam,wherein the back-side includes an aperture into which the user insertstheir hand if they should actually chance to catch a flying-ball at agame. The front-side (for catching a ball) is only imprinted with asimulated webbing-trap region; thus there is no anticipation of usingthe glove in any manner to improve one's catching skill.

Therefore, in full consideration of the preceding patent-search review,there is determined a need among some 12-million young baseball-playersfor an improved form of device to which these patents have beenaddressed. Accordingly, the inventor hereof believes their newlyimproved ball-catcher's training-glove referred to as the WEBGLOV™, andcurrently being developed into production under auspices of theSportsProducts-Consultants Mfg./Mkt.Co., —exhibits certain advantages asshall be further revealed in the subsequent portion of this disclosure.

II.) SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A.) In view of the foregoing discussion about the earlier invention art,it is therefore to important to make it pellucid to others interested inthe art, that the object of this invention is to provide a uniqueextensively abbreviated configuration for a sportsball trainingcatching-glove (hereinafter referred to as the WebGlov™ or—“glove”). Thenovel function of this glove being, through ‘reduced-scale effect’, toinduce a novice to catch a baseball in a more precise manner through useof a smaller training-ball; which is preferably an inexpensivecommercially available golfball-sized 1⅝-inch diameterpolyethylene-plastic light-weight albeit durable ‘Wiffle’™-ball (thissize is the default standard for the sports-golfing industry). Bymatching a much smaller ball to the greatly reduced surface-area of theWebGlov's receiving-trap (which is only about ¼th the surface-area foundupon a typical full-sized fielder's leather-glove), this greatly reducedso-called ‘catching-pocket’ area imposes a significant challenge to theuser, thereby improving their hand/eye-coordination and timing. By theuser thus forcing themselves to repetitively catch a smaller ball in asignificantly reduced receiving-trap surface-area, this new WebGlov™training concept is thus intended to condition the user into attaining asubstantially more predictable ability to precisely catch a full-sized‘baseball’ (or larger ‘softball’) into the much larger webbing-trapsurface-area of a conventional full-sized fielder's-glove.

Also, unlike the painful trauma often inflicted by baseballs, even atlow-speeds, it was soon found that that the WebGlov's exceptionallylight-weight structure was perfectly suited to the similarlylight-weight hollow-plastic polyball. Thus, repeated catching ofspeeding polyballs posed no pain, —even if the polyball accidentallyimpacted ones finger-tips, palm, or inadvertently deflected into one'sbody or face; —a common occurrence among young baseball-players.

The novel ‘scale-effect’ of my innovative WebGlov™ thus facilitates thedevelopment of quicker wrist-hand-arm movement particularly among youngplayers, which are essential skills when fielding ground-balls orline-drives. These motions are commonly inhibited in young-players stilldeveloping their basic musculature, because of the inherent mass of thebaseball-glove itself. By using my inexpensive WebGlov™, it is foundthat the quick-reaction muscles and associated ligamentary tissue, canbe developed more safely, without heretofore concern as to injury. Thenovel configuration of my WebGlov™ exacts proper catching technique,emphasizing the mechanics of targeting the ball, and then instantlycapturing of the ball between closing thumb and forefinger;—as opposedto often unknowingly sloppy catching of the ball in the adjacentpalmal-area portion of one's hand (often causing pain); —thereforeresulting in a more skilled and confident player.

B.) Another object of this invention disclosure is to set forth anabbreviated catching-glove accordingly to proceeding item-A, wherein arelatively inexpensive glove is made to a remarkably diminutive size andweight, being it is worn generally upon the thumb and adjoiningindex-finger (optionally upon the thumb and middle-finger, while smallerplayers may even employ both their index and middle fingers therein thesingle finger-receptacle), and is designed with a preferablyopen-lattice style receiving-trap portion bridging between the spacedapart thumb and finger's slightly V-splayed receptacles (the splayedarrangement thus naturally adapting the receptacle-axes to theconfiguration of one's hand). Dimensionally, in the adult-sized model(child-sized model about 30%-smaller), the thumb and finger-receptaclesare both approximately 4¼-inches long×1¾-inches wide, while measuringonly about 7½-inches across at its upper-width, and about 5½-inchesacross at its lower-width (the splayed narrow-end being where thumb andfinger are inserted); —the receiving-trap thereby measuringapproximately 3½-inches across its upper-width and about 2-inches acrossat its lower-width. Thumb and finger-receptacles can remain open attheir upper-terminuses, or can be made closed,—according tomanufacturer's engineering-design preference. The glove is preferablyfabricated from 1/10-inch gauge roll-stock frothed-neoprene material(although material as thin as 1/16th-inch to as thick as about3/16th-inch gauge is optional), and which is clad upon at least oneside, and preferably both sides, with a stretch nylon-fabric. Theflexible roll-stock material is spread flat while the sub-assembledpieces are precision-cut for uniformity (via conventional cutting-dies,or water-jet cutting for example), then preferably assembled viaconventional production methodology known to the art (preferably viasewing-machine, but bonding via adhesive, or ultrasonic-welding is anoption). This preferred construction of cushioning-material is found togive adequate cushioning protection to the user's hand, even frompolyballs thrown at high-velocity from a conventional pitching-machine.

C.) Another object of this disclosure is to set forth an inventionaccording to preceding items-A&B, wherein the WebGlov™ article hereofcan be worn by two, three, or more individuals for example, which areengaged in training-practice relay-catching of a go hand-thrownpolyballs. However, for a more intense training of catching, theinventor hereof has discovered that a conventional polyballpitching-machine such as J. Robert Richard's popular commerciallyavailable PersonalPitcher™ unit (U.S. Pat. No. 7,011,084-which my fatheractually only intended for batters in perfecting their ball-hittingskills); —is discovered adaptable to conducting a relentless rapid-firerate of throws to a solo-catcher (generally up to one-hundred throwsbefore reloading of polyballs is required)! Actually, the samesolo-player may resume catching in the afore described manner as tothereby merely compete against their own prior catching score, oroptionally, allow a successive-player to assume their same distalposition from the pitching-machine; whereupon said successive-playerproceeds to try and beat the prior established catching-score. Thisnovel competitive method of utilizing the WebGlov™ in combination with aconventional polyball pitching-machine, has been found to significantlyaccelerate the training of vital hand/eye-coordination and timing neededto become an outstanding ball-catching athlete.

III.) DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT DRAWINGS

The foregoing and still other objects of this invention will becomefully apparent, along with various advantages and features of noveltyfrom study of the following description including the species generalembodiments and generic-variant embodiments. Wherein indicia ofreference are shown to match related matter stated in the text, as wellas the Claims section annexed hereto; thus, a better understanding ofthe invention and its use is intended, by reference to the drawings,which are considered as primarily exemplary and not to be thereforeconstrued as restrictive in nature; wherein:

FIG. 1, is a pictorial front/elevation-view favoring the upper-leftfrontal portion of my abbreviated catching-glove shown worn upon thethumb and index-finger of a catcher's left-hand (if worn optionally uponthe catcher's right-hand it would appear as a mirror-image thereof), andincludes a phantom-delineation (dashed-outline) of a polyball beingcaught within the opened receiver-trap portion of the glove;

FIG. 2, is another pictorial-view showing a birds-eye aspect of thepreceding hand and glove, wherein the ball has instantly impacted theglove's catching-pocket;

FIG. 3, is a rear/elevation-view of the left-hand and the gloves'sbackside, wherein glove action is revealed in a dynamic open/closedball-capturing operation;

FIG. 4A, is an front/elevation-view showing the glove alone in itsrelaxed condition, in preferred lattice-work type receiving-trapconfiguration, wherein the thumb and finger axes are shown to bepreferably symmetrically splayed to converge toward its lower end;

FIG. 4B, is an front/elevation-view showing the glove alone in itsrelaxed condition, in preferred mesh-work type receiving-trapconfiguration, wherein the thumb and finger axes are again shown to bepreferably symmetrically splayed, and the right tubule member isexemplified as joined into a linear bifurcated-flange arrangement.

FIG. 4C, is a 10×-enlarged cross-sectional view projected through plane4C:4C in FIG. 4B, showing the flexile bifurcated-flanges in bothpre-sewn and post-sewn positions;

FIG. 5, is a side-elevation cross-section view projected on plane 5:5 inFIG. 4A, showing the partial hand poised aftwardly as to catch adown-wardly caught ball;

FIG. 6, is a pictorial view showing how the WebGlov™ can be employed innovel combination with a conventional polyball batters/pitching-machine.

IV.) ITEMIZED NOMENCLATURE REFERENCES

-   10—overall abbreviated catching glove embodiment-   11, 11′/11″, 11L, 11 a—thumb receptacle, upper-terminus:    open/closed, lower-terminus, axis-   12, 12′/12″, 12L, 12 a—finger receptacle, upper-terminus:    open/closed, lower-terminus, axis-   13, 13′/13″, 13 p—receiving-trap, lattice-types:    neoprene-strips/nylon-mesh, closed panel-   14—catching-pocket-   15—conventional stitching-   16, 16 t, 16′, 16″, 16C—human-hand, thumb, index-finger,    middle-finger, thumb-crouch-   17, 17′—thumb and finger splay ref.-angle, closure action ref.-arrow-   18, 18′, 18″—conventional hollow pollyball, ball-center, myriad    polyballs-   19, 19′, 19″—thrown ball arrow ref.-line progression,    ref.arrow-head, path-streamers-   20′/20″—fold-over action ref.arrows: left/right-   21 t′/21 t″, 21 f′, 21 f″—folded-over ends: thumb-tubule front/rear,    finger-tubule front/rear-   22, 22′/22″—molded bifurcated-flange, front-flange/rear-flange-   23, 23′, 23″—conventional pitching-machine, support tripod, varied    pitching ref.-trajectories-   24—exemplified practicing catcher

V.) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Initial reference is given by way of FIGS. 1, 2, 3, wherein is exhibitedthe presently preferred overall embodiment of the WebGlov™ 10, shownbeing supported upon the thumb 16 t and index-finger 16′ of a catcher'supheld hand 16. In FIG. 1 we see an exemplified conventional polyball 18approaching along thrown path-progression 19, wherein FIG. 1 thereference arrow-head 19′ is shown leading to the pollyball's eventualimpact point upon the general catching-pocket region 14 formed by thereceiving-trap 13 formation bridging contiguously between tubule-likethumb-receptacle 11 and similar tubule-like finger-receptacle 12. Atwhich point the learned skill of hand/eye-coordination becomes critical,not only as to the precise placement of catcher's hand 16, but also thesimultaneous exact reflexive-timing for captive closure grasping of thepolyball 18 between the tubular thumb-receptacle 11 and opposing tubularfinger-receptacle 12. Hence, —‘to early’ of closure, results in ablocking-closure of the glove (not in of itself shown); in which theball is prevented from landing upon catching-pocket 14; —whileconversely, ‘to late’ of timing, would result in the inertially-livepolyball bouncing-out of the catching-pocket region 14, if thereflexive-action of the catcher does not timely close upon its entry atthe very Instant portrayed by the as yet still open receiving-trap 13indicated in FIG. 2. Accordingly, reference to FIG. 3, shows theWebGlov™ a mere fraction of a second later, as the catcher has properlymoved their opposed thumb 16 t and index-finger 16′ into a mergedposition via closure action ref.-arrow 17′, whereby the polyball 18 issuccessfully retained captive within the now enveloping catching-pocket14 region.

Reference to FIG. 4A shows how the presently preferred embodiment isconstructed from preferably eight separate preliminary-pieces offrothed-neoprene material by means of an intersecting crisscrossedlattice-work like arrangement, achieved by assembling six variouslypre-cut strips 13′ of the preferred frothed-neoprene material, wherebythe narrower vertically oriented secondary-strips are preferably bothsewn and adhesive bonded to the horizontal primary-strips which bridgeacross between thumb-receptacle 11 and finger-receptacle 12. Note alsohow the fabrication ref.-arrows; 20′(left) and 20″(right) demonstratehow the flat cut-panels (Ref.-dashed-outline) of conventionalfrothed-neoprene material (preferably pre-clad with blue/stretch-nylonon one side, and black/stretch-nylon upon the obverse-side for example)are wrapped over 180-degrees, whereupon their respective joined ends arefinally linearly-stitched permanently to the horizontal primary-strips13′;—which operation thereby forms the thumb-receptacle 11 andfinger-receptacle 12 tubules, while completing assembly of the basicWebGolv™ 10. Also observe in FIG. 4B embodiment how the upper-terminuses11″ of thumb-receptacle 11 and upper-terminuses 12″ of finger-receptacle12 are optionally occluded by sewing them closed.

A very similar fabrication method follows in the alternate WebGlov™embodiment of FIG. 4B, however here, we see that a much sheererconfiguration of lattice-work is employed, which can be fabricated fromnylon-mesh like fabric which perimeter can be multi-folded to increasethickness prior to being sewn. To further reduce labor-costs however,the entire receiving-trap panel can be injection-molded of a durableplastic such as nylon-resin, and permanently sewn to the opposing leftand right frothed-neoprene tubules 11 and 12 according to the joiningarrangement exhibited at the right-side portion of FIG. 4C (which ifadopted would be employed at both the left and right portions). Noticehow the joined wrapped-over 20′/20″ (action ref.-arrows) merged edgeends 21 f′/21 f″ of the exemplified finger-receptacle 12 tubule (andlikewise 21 t′/21 t″ of the thumb-receptacle 11 tubules) preferablysimply abut into the linear-mouth of the bifurcated-flange 21 portion ofthe left (and right, but only left-side being illustrated) side of thehere exemplified injection-molded receiving-trap 13; wherein these edgeends thus become permanently joined via sewn stitching 15 closurethereupon of the overlapping bifurcated-flanges 21 f′ and 21 f″.

There remain subtle, however vital other differences which are to becomeherein more evident and understood as important improvements. Forexample, FIG. 6 demonstrates how my WebGlov™ can be employed by a solocatcher 24 in novel combination with a conventional pitching-machine 23loaded with as many as one-hundred conventional golfball sized polyballs18″. The Pitching-machine 23 thrusts the polyballs outward every fewseconds along indicated pitching trajectory 19, and according to the waythe pitching-machine is programmed, the polyball 16 will follow any oneof the nine varied trajectory-paths 19′, which serves to really keep thepracticing catcher 24 hustling to catch such an often unpredictablearray of pitches. Accordingly, if the catcher 24 successfully catchesone-third of the pollyballs, they attain a score of 33;—which they thusendeavor to better toward the ultimate score of 100 (out of one-hundredpolyballs being pitched! Furthermore, a further object of the novelcatching-game can involve several catchers in hot competition to attainthe highest score for the training-session.

Thus, it is readily understood how the preferred and generic-variantembodiments of this invention contemplate performing functions in anovel way not heretofore available nor realized. It is implicit that theutility of the foregoing adaptations of this invention are notnecessarily dependent upon any prevailing invention patent; and, whilethe present invention has been well described hereinbefore by way ofcertain illustrated embodiments, it is to be expected that variouschanges, alterations, rearrangements, and obvious modifications may beresorted to by those skilled in the art to which it relates, withoutsubstantially departing from the implied spirit and scope of the instantinvention. Therefore, the invention has been disclosed herein by way ofexample, and not as imposed limitation, while the appended Claims setout the scope of the invention sought, and are to be construed asbroadly as the terminology therein employed permits, reckoning that theinvention verily comprehends every use of which it is susceptible.Accordingly, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusiveproperty or proprietary privilege is claimed, are defined as follows.

1. An abbreviated flexible light-weight baseball training glove forcatching a conventional fractional-ounce polyball, comprising: a thumbreceptacle means and a finger receptacle means arranged whereby theirrespective opposed receptacle-axes are sufficiently splayed as tonaturally adapt to configuration of a hand; including a flexilereceiving-trap means thereto bridging between opposed said receptaclesas to provide a trailing pocket for catching and holding a polyball. 2.The abbreviated baseball training glove according to claim-1, wherein anadvantage due to reduced-scale effect is provided the user, wherebyreception of an approximate ¼-ounce polyball enables the user to tactilysense the polyball with the same effectiveness as one would a larger5-ounce baseball relative to a full-sized fielder's-glove.
 3. Theabbreviated training glove according to claim-1, wherein aggregatestructure is fabricated from flexible roll-stock material means, whichwhen spread flat is pattern-cut into primary pieces then assembled viaconventional production methodology of the art.
 4. The fabricationmethod according to claim-3, wherein aggregate structure is fabricatedfrom flexible roll-stock commercially available frothed-neoprenematerial or equivalent of approximate 1/10th-inch to 3/16ths-inchthickness, clad upon at least one side with a reinforcing nylonstretch-fabric; and when spread flat is pattern-cut into primary piecesthen assembled via conventional production methodology of the art. 5.The abbreviated training glove according to claim-1, wherein saidreceiving-trap means is formed narrower across its upper region thanacross its central region, thereby forming a catching-pocket moreamenable to retaining the polyball.
 6. The abbreviated training-gloveaccording to claim-1, wherein said finger receptacle means can be usedeither for insertion of user's index-finger or insertion of user'smiddle-finger or insertion of both said fingers, and may be used uponeither the left or right hand; all according to user preference.
 7. Theabbreviated training-glove according to claim-1, wherein saidthumb-receptacle means is a tubule like formation made either open orclosed at its upper-terminus.
 8. The abbreviated training-gloveaccording to claim-1, wherein said finger-receptacle means is a tubulelike formation made either open or closed at its upper-terminus.
 9. Theabbreviated training-glove according to claim-1, wherein saidreceiving-trap means portion extends between the proximalupper-terminuses and proximal lower-terminuses of respective said thumband finger receptacles.
 10. The abbreviated training-glove according toclaim-1, wherein said receiving-trap means can be of lattice likeformation or of closed panel like formation, either said formationembodiment being employed according to engineering-design preference.11. The receiving-trap according to claim-10, wherein said latticeformation means is constructed via flat strips of compliantstretch-nylon clad frothed-neoprene material, or alternately constructedof an open-mesh nylon-material; according to engineering-designpreference; either of which material is secured to opposed said thumband finger receptacles via conventional production methodology of theart.
 12. A diminutive flexible light-weight polyball catching baseballtraining-glove, for conditioning a ball-catcher to attain improvedhand/eye-coordination: comprising: a thumb receptacle means and a fingerreceptacle means arranged oppositely whereby their respectivereceptacle-axes are splayed closer toward their lower extremities, andincluding a flexile receiving-trap means arranged there between as toprovide a trailing-pocket for receiving and retaining a conventionalpolyball; thereby facilitating the user with advantage of reduced-scaleeffect, whereby reception of an approximate ¼-ounce polyball enables theuser to tactily sense a polyball with equal relative effectiveness asone would when catching a larger 5-ounce baseball with a full-sizedfielder's-glove.
 13. The diminutive training glove according toclaim-12, wherein aggregate structure is fabricated from flexibleroll-stock commercially available frothed-neoprene material orequivalent of approximate 1/10th-inch to 3/16ths-inch thickness, cladupon at least one side with a reinforcing nylon stretch-fabric; and whenspread flat is pattern-cut into primary pieces then assembled viaconventional production methodology of the art.
 14. The diminutivetraining glove according to claim-12, wherein said conventional hollowpolyball can nominally range from a minimum of 1⅛-inch, to a maximum of2-inches in diameter; while preferably 1%-inches in diameter.
 15. Thediminutive training-glove according to claim-12, wherein said fingerreceptacle means can be used either for insertion of user's index-fingeror insertion of user's middle-finger or for insertion of both saidfingers, and may be used upon either one's left or right hand; allaccording to user preference.
 16. The diminutive training-gloveaccording to claim-12, wherein said receiving-trap means is formednarrower across its upper region than across its central region, therebyforming a catching-pocket more amenable to retaining the polyball. 17.The diminutive training-glove according to claim-12, wherein saidreceiving-trap means portion extends between the proximalupper-terminuses and proximal lower-terminuses of respective said thumband finger receptacles.
 18. The diminutive training-glove according toclaim-12, wherein said receiving-trap means can be of a closed panellike formation, or alternatively of an open lattice formation comprisedof either strips of stretch-nylon clad frothed-neoprene material, oralternately constructed of an open-mesh nylon material; according toengineering-design preference; either of which said material beingsecured to opposed said thumb and finger receptacles via conventionalproduction methodology of the art.
 19. An automated competitive methodof practicing the skill of catching a fractional-ounce polyball,comprising: a.) providing the training catcher with an abbreviatedlight-weight thumb and finger catching glove emulating the function of afull-sized fielders-glove; b.) providing a conventional polyballpitching-machine loaded with a myriad of polyballs, staging it asdesired, and switching it to ‘on’ position; c.) moving the user apreferred distance away from said pitching-machine, and assuming acatching or fielding stance; d.) proceeding to catch as many of thepolyballs as possible, catching of one-hundred polyballs thrownconsecutively from said pitching-machine thus totaling a perfect scoreof 100-points; e.) then upon reloading of the polyballs, the same playermay resume catching in the afore described manner as to compete againsttheir own prior score, or optionally, allow a successive player toassume the same distal position, whereupon said successive playerproceeds to try and beat the prior established catching score.
 20. Theautomated polyball practice catching method according to claim-19,wherein an advantage due to reduced-scale effect is provided the user,whereby reception of an approximate ¼-ounce polyball enables the user totacitly sense the polyball with the same effectiveness as one would alarger 5-ounce baseball relative to a full-sized fielder's-glove.